Sisavang Vatthana

Sisavang Vatthana (13 November 1907-13 May 1978) was King of Laos from 29 October 1959 to 2 December 1975, succeeding Sisavang Vong.

Biography
Sisavang Vatthana was born in Luang Prabang in 1907, the son of King Sisavang Vong. He was educated in France, and he served as Prime Minister of Laos from 15 October to 21 November 1951, succeeding Phoui Sananikone and preceding Souvanna Phouma. In 1959, he succeeded his father as King of Laos, and he sought to steer a neutral course between the United States and the Soviet Union. He was effectively powerless, as the Laotian Civil War raged during his reign, and the real power rested with the "Three Princes" - the pro-US and conservative Boun Oum, the Soviet-backed Souvanna Phouma, and the North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao-backed Souphanouvong. On 23 August 1975, the Pathet Lao entered Vientiane, ending the civil war, and Sisavang Vatthana and his family were arrested in 1977 to prevent them from fleeing the country. He died of malaria in 1978.